With an infusion of $160 million in new capital, the fast casual pizza chain will also invest in tech-focused initiatives like digital ordering, its loyalty rewards program, off-premise programs and personalized marketing.

As Impossible Foods and Before the Butcher gear up for their grocery debuts and develop new products, such as Impossible Sausage for Little Caesar's, Beyond Meat's first-mover advantage in supermarkets may be threatened.

While the growing segment brings in sales and new customers, it introduces challenges to both the front and back of house, from unpredictable production to confusing traffic flow, Technomic said at the NRA Show.

The fast food chain had sued operator Fritz Management to stop using its brand name in 37 locations in Texas, claiming negative media attention following viral videos of rodents in a kitchen is causing sales to decline.